Ministries

Serving our community is done through a variety of ministries, which one is your calling?

Please consider offering your time, talent or treasure to help others in our community. Read below to find out how you may be able to serve. We have five areas in which we concentrate or ministerial efforts. They are:

Parish Council

Finance Council

The Finance Council is created pursuant to Cannon Law for the purpose of serving and advising the pastor on all budgetary and financial issues related to the parish. Monthly meetings with intervening committee meetings.

For more information, please contact Chairperson: Joe Malas through the church office. 847-468-6900

Servant Partner Group

The Servant Partner Group is available to all ministry leaders to use as a sounding board for things within the ministries. Each ministry is assigned a servant partner. While the servant partner is available, they are not there to replace the ministry leaders.

For more information, please contact Chairperson: Joe Bermea through the church office. 847-468-6900

Education Commission

Time & Talent Sign Up – Stewardship

The DSA: Stewardship Committee exists to promote the practice of Christian stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure in the parish. It fosters prayer, awareness programs, and the annual stewardship appeal. Monthly meetings. For more information, please contact Father Andrew or Joe Bermea.

Building and Grounds

Liturgical Ministries

Liturgical Committee

The Liturgy Planning and Decorating Committee exists to promote good liturgies in our Catholic tradition. The Committee prepares for all celebrations in the liturgical year and other special celebrations and services. Coordinates the various liturgical ministers, (such as lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, servers…)and works with Father Andrew and the Music Director. There are Monthly meetings. This would be a one year term. For more information, please contact Kimberly Gurga or Father Andrew at the Parish office.

If you would like to receive information to become a Eucharistic Minister, Lector (reader) or Usher for Church, please call the Parish Office. All training will be provided.

Eucharistic Ministers – prayerfully serve the people of St. Laurence by distributing the Body and Blood of Christ during Eucharistic celebrations. Confirmed adults distribute Communion at Mass. Training provided. Commitment: Serve one to two times per month, at the Mass of your choice. Committee led by Melanie Marcordes.

Lectors are Confirmed adults and youth who proclaim God’s Word at our liturgies. After training, they will be commissioned as Lectors. Committee led by Belinda Bermea.

Greeters welcome parishioners to each mass. They offer a friendly smile and warm greeting to members as they enter the church. They offer assistance to anyone who might need help or guidance on where the elevator, washrooms etc. might be. Committee led by Toni Kmiecik.

Ushers Ministry helps in making sure liturgies and other functions are conducted in an orderly manner. They help with seating, greeting, emergency medical or other needs, etc. The only requirement to become a member of the Ushers Ministry is a desire to be helpful to the parish and its members, and to serve in a responsible manner in terms of meeting schedule commitments. The ushers serve at all weekend and Holy Day Masses and other liturgical functions. The Ushers Ministry is open to any Confirmed parishioner. For more information, please contact the parish secretary. Committee led by Louis Oine and Peter Padilla.

Altar Servers

Altar Servers are young men and women of the parish (5th grade and up) who serve at the various masses and services at St. Laurence. If you are interested in becoming an altar server, please contact Brandi Bolding through the Parish office 847-468-6900.

Music Ministry

The Music Ministry provides the music and leads the singing at the liturgy. The Music Ministry includes the Cantors and Instrumentalists and the various mass choirs (Saturday 4 p.m., Sunday: 7:15, 9 a.m., 11 a.m. masses). We are currently searching for the following: Choir members, Piano/Organ Choir Accompanist, Instrumentalist and Cantors. Please contact our Music Director: Kimberly Gurga or Bill Lucas through the Parish office 847-468-6900.

Wedding Coordinator

Organized individual assists priest by conducting the rehearsal and directing the
wedding party to ensure a sacred celebration for the sacrament of marriage.
Commitment: Approximately once a month. Special Note: Must be available Friday evening and Saturday afternoon of the same weekend. For more information, please contact Kimberly Gurga through the parish office.

Baptismal Coordinator

Members of the Baptismal Coordinator ministry provide instruction to parents prior to their child’s baptism assisting with Baptism preparation and faith development. The Baptismal ministry assists in the development of the parish and the growth of the church. The time spent teaching is a time for deepening the faith commitment of the parents so they can step up as role models for their children. For more information contact the parish secretary at 847-468-6900.

Sacristan

Sacristans are responsible for ensuring that the sacred vessels, altar, and general worship space are prepared for the celebration of the Mass. They are also responsible for coordinating the lectors, commentators and extraordinary ministers and leading the before Mass prayer with them. After Mass and after the sacred vessels are purified, the Sacristan is responsible for cleaning them, putting them away and ensuring the worship space is restored to normal. For more information, please contact Father Andrew.

Washing/Ironing Altar Linens Volunteers wash and iron sacred linens used at Mass. Commitment: 90 minutes, every other month. For more information, please contact Rose Plazyk through the parish office.

Washing/Polishing Sacred Vessels Volunteers needed to wash and polish vessels used at Mass. Commitment: 30 minutes, once a month. For more information, please contact Rose Plazyk through the parish office.

Heavenly Dusters

Volunteer’s clean pews, dust windowsills and statues, and do whatever cleaning is necessary. The Dusters work on Friday mornings after 8AM mass. Contact Rose and Dan Plazyk through the parish office.

Rosary & Eucharistic Adoration

This group will unite as a community praying the Rosary for the sanctity of all life from conception until natural death. “The Rosary for the Unborn”. Please come and join us!Eucharistic Adoration relies on parishioners signing up for one hour slot to take a regular opportunity to pray and worship before Christ present in the Holy Eucharist.

Formation Ministries

Adult Bible Study

Father Andrew will be choosing a Catholic bible study program for next year. Groups meet at different times of the week. Please contact Lisa Bucaro & Larry Smith for the evening Bible study or Rae Eigenhauser and Nancy Haire for the daytime Bible study at the Parish Office for more details.

Religious Education Teachers and Subs

Religious Education at St. Laurence serves youth in grades 1 through 8 and their families, as well as the catechists who serve in this ministry. It is divided between Children’s Ministry (grades 1-4) and Early Teen Religious Education (grades 5-8). Religious Education also includes the preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation. We need Teachers/Sub/Aid for RE Classes. For more information, please contact Briana Collins at the Parish office: 847-468-6900.

Vacation Bible School

If you are interested in helping with St. Laurence Vacation Bible School you would be helping with a Catholic day camp open to all children between the ages of pre-school (4 years old) and fifth grade. The camp is guided by volunteer adult parishioners assisted by committed and enthusiastic members from the St. Laurence Parish community. Please contact Father Andrew or Kathy Jones if you are interested in participating.

Cursillo – Men

We meet every:

Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Sacristy.

Friday at 7:30 a.m.

Please contact Joe Bermea at: bermej2002@yahoo.com or 847-931-5133 if you are interested in joining the Men’s group. If you would like to attend an upcoming men’s Cursillo weekend retreat this year, the dates are:

Women of Evangelization

Women of “E” for short is composed of a group of Women that meet every Saturday morning. These meetings include discussions on what it means to be a Catholic woman in today’s world. All women are invited to gather at St. Laurence for a day of inspiration that provides you with many opportunities to grow in your prayer life, faith and service.

For more information, please contact Kim Mailloux through the Parish office.

In Home Faith Sharing

“Our spiritual journey is best made in community. We all need people to experience life with. People to encourage us, challenge us, walk with us, and hold us accountable.”

If you really want to grow spiritually, join a small faith sharing group at St. Laurence. If you can’t find one to join – start one! Meet once a week or once a month. Pray together. Read the Scriptures together. Read great books together. Listen to a Lighthouse Ministry C.D. together. Seek answers to questions, together!

For more information, please contact Joe Bermea through the church office.

School Families

Lighthouse Media

This ministry is quite simple, share your faith through reading and listening to publications from Lighthouse Media. Know the information so that you may share the appropriate suggestions with interested parishioners. The leader of this group is Belinda Bermea.

Outreach Ministries

Events Planning

Parish Events will be planned by the Parish Events Planning Committee. New members & volunteers are always welcome. Come share your ideas and volunteer your time and support to St. Laurence parish. We also need people with Event Planning/Project Management, Marketing and Communications and Office Management backgrounds.
Most of all we need people that are ready to work at planned parish events!
For more information, please contact Sharlene Huske through the Parish office: 847-468-6900

Hispanic Ministry

Social Action Committee

There are two components to this group. One is year round and the other is the Christmas Giving Tree. The Giving Tree provides Christmas gifts for individual families and various organizations throughout the Elgin area. Both are lead by Joanne Engers.

Homeless Shelter Volunteers

Homeless Shelter (PADS) volunteers help at the emergency overnight shelter (PADS) in the Diocese area. Volunteers can work at the local Elgin (PADS) as volunteers OR volunteers can cover one of the following shifts at Hesed House (Aurora):
• 4:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. (Breakfast shift)
• 6:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. (Dinner shift)
Duties include serving dinner, preparing lunches, making/serving breakfast, etc., and vary according to shift worked. For more information, please contact Joe Bermea through the Parish office 847-468-6900

Health and Wellness

This ministry provides parishioners with information, education, and screening services
regarding health care issues, aiming to encourage and enhance the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of all. Commitment: Once a month. For more information, please contact Aubrey Glaskin-Clay through the Parish office 847-468-6900

St. Vincent DePaul

Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul. For more information, please contact Bonnie Kararo through the church office.

Pro-Life

The Pro-Life Group promotes life in every phase, from conception to natural death. One means of accomplishing this is to provide contact information for women experiencing crisis pregnancies. For more information, please contact Kay Gotter through the Parish office: 847-468-6900

Knights of Columbus (Council 654)

The Knights of Columbus is an order of Catholic men and their families, dedicated to promoting the concepts of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. For more information, please contact Michael Kmiecik or Lorenzo Ruiz through the Parish office 847-468-6900.

Newcomer Welcoming

The St. Laurence Welcoming Ministry extends the “Welcoming” tradition of St. Laurence as they greet and welcome parishioners and guests at the weekend Masses and special events held at our parish. This ministry provides information and assistance to parishioners and guests. This ministry is open to anyone who would like to make a difference by providing a warm and friendly environment to our parish family.

We are also looking for families that would be open to hosting a dinner for New Families at St. Laurence. A desire to make others feel welcome is the only requirement…the leader of this group is Toni Kmiecik.

Hospital, Nursing Home & Homebound Ministers of Care

This ministry deals with those parishioners who are unable to be at church, or may need the extra blessings that receiving the Eucharist can provide.

The Catholic Parishes in Elgin each take a day to bring Communion to the patients at Sherman Hospital. St. Laurence’s day is Friday. Training through Sherman Hospital and St. Laurence are necessary to be part of this ministry.

Members of the Nursing Home Prayer Service group visit and bring Eucharist to those who are unable to worship with us here at St. Laurence due to illness, disability or convalescence. Current Nursing Homes that we visit: Citadell, Oak Crest, South Elgin Rehab, Tower Hill, Heritage Woods, White Oaks at Heritage Woods, and White Oaks.

The Homebound Ministry spiritually and emotionally enriches the lives of the elderly, home-bound, disabled, sick, and lonely and others needing companionship and love through Jesus’ boundless love. Ministers of Care visit the home bound, say a prayer and deliver communion to the person and any family members who are Catholic.

It is a worthwhile ministry to bring communion to those confined to the hospital, nursing home, or at home. All training will be provided, please contact Dee Reinhardt through the parish office.

Website and Communications Committee

This group works on the content that is shared with the world about St. Laurence Church in Elgin, IL. If you have a calling to write and wish to share your talents developing content for our blog, social media or press releases, you have found your ministry. We work with teens who need service hours to develop social media content for the church social media accounts.

This committee also works to complete the communication plans for all of the events. All training will be provided, please contact Dee Reinhardt or Melanie Marcordes through the parish office.